Wednesday, October 10, 2012 5:48:38 AM"Due to it being President Lincoln's hat there is no doubt it was made of the finest beaver short hair. When the pelt was processed, they used some type of a combination comb & cutter to remove all the longer more coarse hair from the beaver pelt. When finished with the complete more elaborate process all that remained was the short, very fine, and softer under hair." - From the Smithsonian website.

The ribbon is indeed silk. But apparently there is some discrepancy between the NMAH description and the Smithsonian one.

The Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum states that "There's also a private vault housing one of the three existing beaver hats Lincoln wore".

Tuesday, October 09, 2012 11:41:31 PM@CrakrJak It is made of silk fibers over a paper base and fabric lining and had a metal buckle. The silk 3" grosgrain ribbon band is presumed to be a mourning band added after purchase. Three of his four son's were dead before the assassination. Robert Lincoln his, fourth was the only one to survive into his adulthood and there are no direct line living decedents from Abraham Lincoln. _Why did I know this.......